The Georgia Chapter of the American Harp Society just celebrated 50 Harps in Concert. It was an amazing evening when over 600 people in the audience enjoyed the beauty of the harp.
We started over a year ago in the fall of 2024 with choosing the date and the location. Throughout the year we urged all harpists to join in the fun.
Then beginning in April, 2025 we selected a creative team to help choose the theme and decide the music. Along with Ga Chapter officers, five professional harpists were asked to serve on this committee. They were Molly O’Roark, Ellen Foster, Calista Anne Koch, Rhett Barnwell, Jennifer Betzer and Tyler Hartley. As a team we decided on 9 pieces we would play together to support our theme of Harmony in Nature.
During the summer we held small several rehearsals in three different locations around the city. Molly O’Roark, Ellen Foster and Calista Koch gave of their time to conduct these rehearsals and ensure that each participant was comfortable with the music.
We then invited 4 local ensembles to perform one piece each. They were Urban Youth Harp Ensemble, Mercer University Harp Ensemble, Middle Georgia Harp Ensemble and Feiner Musicke Harp Ensemble.
In addition we asked Elisabeth Remy Johnson, Principal Harpist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, to perform a solo.
In one of many magical moments during the concert, we celebrated 25 years of success that our Urban Youth Harp Ensemble enjoyed this year. The program was begun in the year 2000 by Remy Johnson with one student and one harp in the Atlanta Public Schools. It now boasts 90 students and 40 harps that were gifted through grants and gifts. Elisabeth and three seniors from the program Myron Leonard, Alexandra Price and Amber Nelms honored us with a performance of Malagueña.
Another special experience was the debut of a new piece we were overjoyed to perform. This piece was composed just for this concert by Molly O’Roark who conducted the first half of the program . The piece was entitled Mariposas in keeping with our theme of Harmony in Nature. Molly, who serves as Artistic Director of Urban Youth Harp Ensemble, conducted the 57 harpists in performing her new piece.
Calista Anne Koch conducted the second half of the program. Calista is a professional harpist serving the Macon area. Besides her active teaching studio and busy performance schedule, she serves as Professor of Harp at Mercer University. Calista arranged many of our pieces and ensured that there was a harp part for every experience level.
Our harp program also featured two other Georgia Chapter composers and arrangers. We performed Rhett Barnwell’s original piece, Peaceable Garden and Julie Koenig’s arrangement of Richard Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra.
Olivia Foster served as our narrator and brought each piece to life. Deborah Ulrich, organist at the church, join the 57 harps on our first and last pieces.
We especially thank Roswell Presbyterian Church who has named the Georgia Chapter a music mission partner. As a result of this designation, we are able to bring harp concerts to the community free of charge so that all might enjoy this beautiful instrument.
It was a night to remember and we are happy to share the entire concert with all of you. You will find it on a special private YouTube channel.
Georgia Chapter, AHS
Judy B. Smith, President
Roddran Grimes, Vice President
Robyn Bish, Secretary
Calista Koch, Media Secretary
Monica Hargrave, Treasurer
